mr2-digest Tuesday, 29 July 1997 Volume 01 : Number 1398 MR2 Re: mr2-digest V1 #1395 Re: MR2 Stereos Re: MR2 floormats Re: Acura imitating MR2... Re: MR2 Stereos MR2 tail light assem! Re: MR2 Brakes MR2 mr2 turbo question MR2 Dealer feedback MR2 Hi-speed vibration, 91T Re: MR2 Ians car to SF (and i don't mean Finland) MR2 rollbars & the SLK; oil filters MR2 service woes MR2 MkII Window Smog, X 1/9, MR2 Re: oil filters, Rebuttal to Steve Bagdon MR2 Re: MK1 Roll Bar/Cage needed MR2 Wheels/TIres MR2 SOLUTION- Million Dollar Brain Twister ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dirk Sieber Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 09:46:40 -0700 Subject: MR2 Re: mr2-digest V1 #1395 >From: DaVe >Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 19:55:18 -0700 >Subject: Re: '97MR2 in Japan > >At 12:11 PM 7/23/97 -0500, you wrote: [...] >>Polished plates that say MR2 on the bottom door sills - nice > >Does anyone have a scan of this yet? How much? If you're just talking about the plates, then yes. If you go to http://www.imag.net/~dsieber/mr2.html, and then follow the link to the new pictures that don't have prices yet, you'll see a picture of it there. Dirk dsieber@express.ca -or- dsieber@unixg.ubc.ca Owner, Wildstar Consulting. E-mail for rates/questions/advice ------------------------------ From: Steve Bagdon Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 13:12:52 -0400 Subject: Re: MR2 Stereos Roger Campbell wrote: > > I just went through a big quest for knowledge on this. I first put in a > decent Sony cassette receiver. I didn't want CD because I still prefer to > make my own "greatest hit compilations". Nothing a 650 meg hard drive, Toast and a cd-rom burner won't fix... :) Steve B. ------------------------------ From: Lim Yi Tee Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 13:23:07 -0400 Subject: Re: MR2 floormats >At 11:20 PM 7/27/97 -0700, you wrote: >>Does anyone know where i can get a new set of floormats >>for my MKII. Dealership said they aren't made anymore >>and couildn't get them. Ok, thanks >ahhhh funny you should ask....Just ordered some from Toyota of Morristown >$43.75 phone # 1-800-540-4048 (Dan's pretty kewl!! He knows me already >from all the mr2 hybrid stuff I ordered). Their prices are pretty dam >cheap imo! rotor=$3.30, cap=24.30, fuel filter=18.80. try metro-toyota in kalamazoo, mi floor mates are $42.80 they r u cheapest i can find so far ------------------------------ From: Jeffrey Ho See Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 10:31:59 -0700 Subject: Re: Acura imitating MR2... At 09:21 PM 7/28/97, Geoff Seeley wrote: >I just received my Sept. issue of Turbo mag. and there's a good picture on >p.39 of an Acura(?) with a set of '94 MR2 taillights installed!! I kid you not! Go to my friend's page : http://www.westworld.com/~joe_r/kodak/mr2integ.jpg for a pix of it. Personally, I don't think the car looks so hot. Not one of my favorite Kosoku cars. - - Jeffrey ------------------------------ From: "Steve Hoult" Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 12:49:22 -0500 Subject: Re: MR2 Stereos > I just went through a big quest for knowledge on this. I first put in a > decent Sony cassette receiver. I didn't want CD because I still prefer to > make my own "greatest hit compilations". Then I replaced the dash speakers > with some 4" Kicker speakers. Sounded good, but no bass reproduction without > distortion. I had been planning on putting a subwoofer or truck speakers > behind the seat, but a sales rep I deal with a lot at Crutchfield > recommended a box that you can put a standard 6x9 speaker in. I'm expecting > to receive them this afternoon, so I can't tell you if they sound any good. > What you're wanting sounds a little more high end, but for the price I think > this should work for me. Some Blaupunkt speakers, the boxes, speaker wire, > Bass Blockers for the front speakers, and shipping only cost about $150. Unless you're real short I think you'll find the 6x9 enclosures are to big for behind the seats. Steve Hoult '89 SC (Tag - MR2QWK) Visit the SC Registry at; WWW.USERPAGES.COM/SHOULT/SC-REG.HTML-SSI ------------------------------ From: "Simon T." Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 11:24:03 -0700 Subject: MR2 tail light assem! Hello, I've got an 86' MKI n/a and interested in changing the rear tail light assem. for an 87or later models'. I am just wondering how differcult this would be...any thing I should be aware of such as location of keyhole for the trunk release, wirings and fits...etc. Please reply for ideas and opions! Thank you! Simon ------------------------------ From: Kkmail678@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 14:08:23 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: MR2 Brakes Hey Joe, Call Mike Calvert Toyota in Houston Texas 800 527-5368 ask for Bill. I have practically rebuilt my 91T with their parts, always the lowest price i have found. Tell them Chuck Atwood told you to call. Chuck A 91T ------------------------------ From: Kkmail678@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 14:09:09 -0400 (EDT) Subject: MR2 mr2 turbo question hello Dave, What sympton caused you to replace your vtv valve. My 91T has a bit of a stumble on acceleration, all of the ignition is new and the timing is correct BTW i have the full jacobs ignition and this problem was present before adding the jacobs. TIA Chuck A 91T ------------------------------ From: Phil Cutajar Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 15:11:15 -0400 Subject: MR2 Dealer feedback Has anyone been to Toyota of Sarasota on US-41? I need to have some work done and would like to know if anyone has dealt with these guys before. Thanks. - -- Phil Cutajar 93 MR2-T, Arctic White mailto:Solo2_MR2@ibm.net ------------------------------ From: Phil Cutajar Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 15:22:07 -0400 Subject: MR2 Hi-speed vibration, 91T > A ways back, I posted a problem with tire balancing. When i got good tires > on the car and an on-the-car tire balance the problem went away...i thought. > The other day i decided to try a hi-speed run. Well, over 105 up to 125, i > got a significant vibration. I figured i better not try the top speed run. > Do Mk2s have a common problem with hi speed vibration? Could I still have > an out of balance wheel? I could feel the vibration more in the seat of my > pants than in the steering wheel if that means anything. I've had a similar problem. I bought 4 new SP8000's about 3000 mi ago, and ever since I have had a vibration that comes and goes. It's most noticable around 70-75. I don't know if it's the tires or the wheel assembly that is causing it. But it sure is annoying. It could be the balancing, since I drive the tires hard at autox, but I can't understand why it's intermittent. I'm going to have them rebalanced soon, but I'm still looking to find someone who can balance them on the car. Since I just moved I don't know anyone around here who does it, but after enough phone calls I'm sure I'll find one. - -- Phil Cutajar 93 MR2-T, Arctic White mailto:Solo2_MR2@ibm.net ------------------------------ From: myt@cypress.com (Micky Thutiyakul / Product Engineer) Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 12:33:11 -0800 (PDT) Subject: Re: MR2 Ians car to SF (and i don't mean Finland) The out of state car "smog impact" inspection by the DMV is a joke. The only thing they look for/care about is the Federal/California sticker under the engine lid so that they can make an extra $300 dollars off of you. As long as you pass smog (should be easy even with some engine mods) you'll be O.K. Not sure about International ownership, but they'll also tag on an 8.5% "use" tax for cars that were registered out of state in your name for less than 90 days. So be sure to mark the "car value" section of the registration form appropriately... Micky '89 SC MR2 > Ian, the state of CA has a web page with those rules but in answer to > your questions - I don't know if this is a 'california" car of "federal" > car - but if it is "federal" AND none of the parts have been removed, > you pay a $300 "smog tax' when you come in. We just had this same > question on the mercedes list from someone moving from Michigan to Palm > Springs. > > Now, if you have removed any emissions parts (can be just about anything > on the engine) and it doesn't pass smog, you have to pay to have it > 'made right". > > That's why I always hesitate before buying aftermarket engine parts. > They have to legally be CARB (Calif Air Relations Board) certified. If > they aren't and the car doesn't pass you're on your own! > ------------------------------ From: william brandt Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 12:39:06 -0700 Subject: MR2 rollbars & the SLK; oil filters When I went to our Mercedes Club national meet last year in Portland, OR, MBNA had on display the very first SLK in North America. It has little integrated rollbars behind each seat. They are fixed, unlike the more expensive SL that has them pop up when the car starts to leave the ground. The retractable hardtop is neat, but I'd suspect if you got rear-ended you'd be looking at a huge repair bill. As to why someone couldn't get their Boxster to race, that's the problem with an expensive car! That's why I like my $3500 MR2! Not that I'd race it on a public street... Filters: Steve, Toyota has a 3rd option - make them here to the original specs. Look at what MB is doing with the ML320 (SUV) built in Alabama - a larger percentage of the parts are made in the US. The drive train is German but pretty much the rest of the car is USA made. Porsche is starting to have a lot of their common consumable parts (like oil filters) made here.Owners weren't buying a Porsche German filter for 4x the price of a USA 3rd party filter... I'm not sure the "new" Toyota filter is of lower quality - has anyone cut the 2 open? Other than no celephane on the base what's the big difference? If they have Purolator make them to their specs, what's wrong with that? Bill William L. Brandt wbco@speedlink.com Sacramento, CA ------------------------------ From: Michelle Clark Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 15:43:10 -0400 Subject: MR2 service woes > I'm not trying to take the dealerships side in this, I'm just trying to > show you that you have to consider their position as well as yours. Guess I was put in my place (once again). Actually, to be fair to the dealership, I have given them a "second chance". This is the second time (in the three months since I got my car) that I've gone to them with a relatively simple problem, and have left there not satisfied. When I first got my car, I needed to get a dealer-certified odometer reading in order to transfer the extended warranty from the original owner to myself. I called this dealership on a Thursday afternoon, and they said they wouldn't be able to do it until the following Tuesday!!!!!! I guess I hadn't realized that reading the odometer and signing a piece of paper took that long and was so complicated. On my lunch hour the next day, I took it to another Toyota dealership (not as convenient, but definitely more helpful). The service guys told me to "Pull it on in and we'll take care of it for you". They ogled my car for a few minutes, read the odometer, stamped the paper and I was on my way in less than ten minutes. Sorry for the wasted bandwidth, guys. For those of you who think I had unrealistic demands... I really didn't expect royal treatment. I was just venting because I have no idea what I'm going to do about transportation, and there ARE some who do provide such services. Obviously this isn't one of them. And after that odometer episode, I didn't have a very high opinion of this one's service department to begin with. If the repair wasn't covered under warranty, or if there wasn't a chance of it voiding the whole warranty, I would gladly buy the part and let my husband do it himself. I trust my car with him more than I do with a dealership. But.... like I said, I have an extended warranty for a reason. I just didn't think it would be such a problem to make use of it. Michelle red 93T ------------------------------ From: "John J. Haluska" Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 16:17:49 -0400 Subject: MR2 MkII Window Smog, X 1/9, Thanks all for the comments about my 93T concerns. Anyone ever notice that the windows on a MkII smog up really badly? Other cars I've had don't do this nearly as bad. It's especially bad in very humid weather. As soon as I towel off the smog, the smog follows behind the towel and fogs up the windshield again. My other car (82 Audi 4000s) does not do this (at least not nearly as bad). I cannot remember whether the MkI did this. I agree that Fiat is for Fix It Again Tony. It was a pretty cool car when it ran. It was definitely way too small for me (6'2"). John ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 30 Jul 97 13:59:02 +0100 Subject: MR2 Re: oil filters, Rebuttal to Steve Bagdon Ref: Currency Fluctuations Steve Bagdon wrote: >C'mon - we're in a worldwide market now. The yen went to crap Define: "went to crap". What does this mean, Steve? >Germans can't build enough cars or find enough ways to spend all the >money they are making. This would be an anomoly. Most firms have no problems allocating economic profits effectively. Rather, it's the lack thereof, Steve. >Toyota had to make a decision charge more for >the old quality stuff, or charge the same amount for a lower quality >filter. Wrong, Steve. Can you really state a source for this gobble-de-gook? >Sooner or later, after you follow the money, Toyota is a >Japanese company, Ford is an America company and BMW is a German >company. That's very good, Steve. Toyota IS a Japanese firm. >The Supra, MR2 and 300ZX TT (and the Miata soon?), and the Z3 >and the SLK, should show you where the money is flowing right now. You >want $3.99 high quality filters again - wait 20 years. The cycle will go >back to the Pacific Rim one day. You just contradicted yourself, Steve... And: Funny? I didn't here about... "cycles" in my Upper Division studies in Economics. Perhaps you could educate us on currency fluctuation cycles, since I have not heard about this alarming trend, Steve? Good God. Go to night school before you decide to make an fool out of yourself. Currency fluctuations don't effect quality. Currency fluctuations shift demand, having the net effect of altering the combinations of goods and services sold, not the attributes of the good and services themselves (Mishkin: "The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Institutions"). And, large firms tend to be hedged to the hilt. Furthermore, the MR2 and 300zx phenomena were chased up market, then out, by the quantity and quality of available substitutes, as well as the impact of the falling US DOLLAR (Landsberg: "Price Theory"), not a falling YEN. Hence, the quality of goods and services are not effected (transitive preference logic), only the "combination" of goods and services sold... as a function of demand. Q.E.D. Res Ipsa Loquitur, Sammy Joseph ------------------------------ From: Daucott@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 16:53:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: MR2 Re: MK1 Roll Bar/Cage needed Thanks to everyone who responded to my Roll cage question. I actually meant to say I am looking for a 2nd hand one, but I'll keep the references for a new one on hand just in case. Dave A. daucott@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Daucott@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 16:53:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: MR2 Wheels/TIres Hi, Is anyone selling a set of 15x6.5 wheels with close to a 40mm offset? They would need to be of a generic type that don't have the exact Toyota hub size, but I need the 4x100 bolt pattern. Dave A. daucott@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 30 Jul 97 13:58:57 +0100 Subject: MR2 SOLUTION- Million Dollar Brain Twister Dear Digest, QUESTION RESTATED APPLYING DISTRIBUTIVE LAW OF MULTIPLICATION: "What is the difference between [(theoretical) maximum torsional sideslip] and [(theoretical) maximum tyre adhesion]?" Let: maximum torsional sideslip = r; let: maximum tyre adhesion = q Three Possibilities: r > q or r = q or r < q It's obvious that r > q, so what we need to do is eliminate distance q = total maximum tyre adhesion. We are isolating the distance: r minus q, for analysis. Hence, the key to solving this "equation" lies in the word: "Difference". What is the "difference"... between [maximum torsional sideslip, r] and [maximum tyre adhesion, q]? If: r & q... then: what is r minus q? *************************************************** Graphic: Theoretical maximum, torsional sideslip- \ \ \ |____//_____________________|___//__________| 0 q r / Theoretical maximum, tyre adhesion _/ *************************************************** Let: D = r - q To establish this as a definition, all we need to do is positively assert a valid converse arguement: if: D + q = r then: r - q = D Therefore, the theoretical answer is threshold D: the desire and degree of the ability of a driver to manage his car in a four wheel drift. SOLUTION: "The theoretical quantity and degree of determination, desire, and aptitude of a driver to manage his car in a four wheel drift PLUS the quantity of his car's theoretical maximum tyre adhesion IS the theoretical maximum torsional sideslip quantity he will attain." D + q will always equal r, whatever that number is, regardless of how effectively he sets up his suspension. "D" will always be the key variable between serious men who drive sports cars. "Thank you for playing"... Sammy Joseph, '88 4AGZE ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V1 #1398